Sound-box for talking-machines.



L. r. DOUGLASS SOUND BOX FOB TALKING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED AB. 19, 1903.

Patented Oct.27, 1908.

Z0071 7. 20 ads Maui/14.

mvzuron mm W "ram/5 STATES f P ATliilit iil LEON F. DOUGLASS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG'NOR TO VICTOR TALKING MACHINE COMPANY. A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

SOUND-36X FOR TALKTNG MAUHKNES.

No. ecaeso."

Application filed March 19,

To all whom it may concern:

.Be it known that I, LEON F. DOUGLASS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sound-Boxes for Talking Machines, of which the following is a full,

clear, and complete disclosure.

- The object of my invention is to provide an inmroved construction, in, and relating to,- sound boxes for talking machines, such that the uality and clearness of the sound produce thereby will be greatly improved, and whereby the action of the sound box, as conce'rns the effect of they vibrations of the stylus or needle caused by the record, will also be made more nearly perfect.

In the 'art relating to talking machines, and the recording and reproduction of sound waves, difliculty has been experienced in that the coarse and other vibrations of the sounds which have been recorded have been too great for the dia hragm of the sound The object ofmy invention, therefore, particularly relates to such a construction in connection with sound boxes that. these harsh undesirable vibrations maybe eliminated or reduced to such an extent that they retain the requisite intensity to give a pleasing efi'ect -when taken in connection with the other vibrations of less amplitide and greater frequency. It is evident that the inertia of the parts of the sound box, and the support. therefor, to which the stylus bar and diaphragm are connected, have considerable effect u on the waves produced from the latter. T at is, if the parts are held rigidly in position, the sound produced by the dia phragm will correspond exactly to the line traced by the stylus point, and if there are vibrations of greater amplitude and less frequency, such vibrations will be reproduced iii-substantially the same manner that they are recorded by the recording machine, and

since sounds having waves of different am- Specification of Letters Patent.

plitude; -are not all recorded with the same Patented ea. 2?, 190a.

1903. Serial No. 1.48,&7S..

ease and accuracy, the sounds which are I have found that when the sound box of a talking machine, or its casing, is mounted upon an elastic cushion or backing, so that said casing may move inde' ndently of the sound box support, the arsh vibrations which would otherwise be undesirably accentuated in some forms of reproducing machines and also the tubby sounds, have been eliminated. This result is occasioned by the relation between the inertia or mass of the metal of the sound box or'its casing, and the amount of elasticity of the cushion or connection between said metal and the arm or support for the sound box. That is, when the stylus or needle follows the finer and 'more rapid sinuosities of the record groove,

the inertia of the sound box is great enough to prevent the casing and dia hragm from lTiOVln or oscillating with t e needle or stylus bar but when the needle traverses the greater or coarser .sinuosit'ies, which must necessarily-be of less frequency, the oscillating force isj'therefore, greater, and at the same time slower and in acting upon the stylus bar and diaphragm causes the sound box or its casing to oscillate more nearly in synchronisin therewith on a diameter at right angles to the stylus bar, instead of vibrating the diaphragm transversely as a whole. It will thus be seen that the, dia phragm is not put under such a strain, nor is the same distorted tosuch an extent as to communicate the full force of the vibrations in the form of sound waves to the soundconveying means or amplifying horn:

Briefly my invention comprises the providing of an elastic cushion or connection be tween the sound box support or tube, and, the sound box or its casing, said cushions be.- ing of such a size, consistency, and form, and being held in such a manner that an elastic and yieldin mounting is given to-the. sound box or t e casing thereof, which a1 lows the same to be oscillated transversely about a-central diameter or axis which is transverse to the axis of the sound box.

For a full, clear, and exact description of my invention, reference may be had to the following specification, and to the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved sound box; Fig. 2, a side elevation thereof,-

and Fig. 3, a view showing the essential parts of the sound box, as concerns this invention, cut away and par ily in section.

In the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates a sound box casing of the usual form, having a dia hragm 2, a stylus bar 3, and needle or sty us 4. The numeral 5 represents the sound box tube or support, which, in'this instance, is formed cylindrically to corres end with one arm of the elbow of the usua amplii'ying h'orn.

imited to this form of sup ort, as the elastic cushion may be adapted or use with other types of talking machines, such as that employing the (pivoted hollow arm. The support or soun box tube 5has at its inner end a low outwardly extending flange 6. The numeral 7 represents a perforated disk or 1 ring having a groove therein to receive the vulcanized or hardened in that flange 6 ofthe sound box support 5. This disk or ring is preferably made of soft rubber or similar elastic material, which is referably molded about the flange 6, and slightly position. The disk 7 may be attached to the back of plate 8 ofthe sound box casing in any con? venient manner, such as by cement or other adhesive, as represented in'Fig. 2, but I have shown the same also attached thereto by machine screws 9 which enter threaded holes in the back late 8 of the sound box, as represented in ig. 3. The manner of connecting the disk 7 with the sound box and with its support, is immaterial, provided that the volume ormass of the elastic material is unconfined so as to allow the same to be most easily distorted when the sound box casing oscillates in accordance With the coarser vi brations of the record groove.

In this instance theflange 6 should project as little as possible from the sound box tube,

and the screws for attaching the yielding material to the sound box casing should leave a considerable amountrof elastic material interposed between said flange and said screws, so as not to retain the parts in a too rigid relation. When these conditions are fulfilled, the movement of the casing and diaphragm absorbs and modifies many ofthe coarser vibrations withoutinterfering with the quality or clearness of the sounds reproduced by the smaller waves, and also eliminates vthe tubby or hollow effect of reproduction. It will'b'e noticedthat the sound convveying tube or support is held in position However, I do not wish to be within the ring only by thelow flange d while the screws or cement are the only means for attaching the flexible ring to the I diaphragm holding portion of the sound box.

It is evident that the heads of the screws may be drawn into the yielding material of the ring when the casing oscillates, while the low flange 6 will easily distort the ielding material surrounding the same. or this reason a vibration of the casing does not have to distort or move the whole volume of the yieldingmaterial when the same moves in relation to the sound conveym tube; In.

the construction of sound boxes wne're rubberrings or bushings have been inte osed between metallic rings or tubes, the edect is entirely difi'erent from that just referred to. In such instances, the volume or mass of the rubber or elastic material is not displaced except internally'to a minute degree and at'different independent points, and this displacement takes place in much the same manner thatthe particles of air are displaced in the direction of the travel of sound Waves, when sound is being transmitted through the at mosphere.

being transmitted to the support or tube,

while the coin ,aratively unconfined cushion That is to say, rubber rings con.- fined between metallic ringssiniply act as. an

or connection ierein set forth in addition .to

acting as insulation to have sound waves of high t'requenc also prevents the passage of the coarser vi rations by allowing the sound. box to oscillate with the stylus .bar and diaphragm. Thus it is seen that the unconfined elastic mounting for the cylindrical casing or the part which carries thediaphragm and stylus bar, acts in the nature of an elas= tic pivoted support which allows the movement of said casing to conform to the coarser vibrations of the diaphragm and stylus bar, but, owing to the inertia of the casing permits the finer and more rapid vibrations-to be transmitted to the diaphragm and thence to the amplifying horn through the sound conducting passages.

Among the advantages obtained by this construction, in addition to those already describedfit will .be evident that as the needle 4 follows the said needle wil fit the sound grooves with Witha sound box mounted in the. usual man' ner,'and with much less deterioration ofthe soundrecord, which, of course, permits a rooves oi the sound record,

.much -more .even pressure upon the walls longing the life of the record.

I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of the form and arrangement of parts in the embodiment of my invention as herein set forth, for the same .may be varied in many ways, which will still accomplish the results and advantages set forth, but

Having thus'ildescribed the nature of my invention, whatgl claimand desire to protect 'by Letters Patent of the United States, is,

1. Ima talking machine the combination of the art of the sound box carrying the means or producing sound waves, a support forming part of the sound box and also forming a part of the sound conveying) devices, and an interposed yielding mem er inde-; pendently connected with said part and said v support.

2. In a sound box for talking machines, a disk of india rubber attached to the back thereof, and a su port which enters said disk and which has a low rojection which is'embedded therein to ho (1 said disk and sound flange which is 'embedde box upon said su port, the outer surface of said disk being substantially unconfined;

3. In a sound box for talking machines, a disk of india rubber attached to the back thereof, a sound box sup ort having a low in said disk, the outer surface of said disk being substantially unconfined.

' 4. In a sound box for talking machines, a disk of india rubber attached to the back thereof, and a flanged sound box tube having its end embedded in said disk, the outer surnected with the said casing and supportingmeans.

7. In a sound box structure a casing cont aining a diaphragm, a part of the sound box forming sound conveyin means for sup porting the same upon ata king machine, and a yielding member interposed between and independently connected with the said casing and supporting means.

8. In a sound recording and re roducing mechanism, the combination with t 0 part of the sound box structure carrying sound producing means and the part thereof by which said means are sup orted, of a yielding member. connected to t. e first mentioned means and independently connected with the last mentioned means. v v

9. In a sound recprding and re roducin mechanism, the combination with t he part c the sound box struc'ttire carrying sound ro .ducin'g means and the part thereof by which saidmeans are connected with the talking machine, of a yielding member interposed and independently connected-with the said parts, to enable the same to move relatively to one another. i

10: In a sound' recording and reproducin mechanism the combination with the part or ducing means and'the-part thereof by w' 'ch the sound box structure carrying sound roj said means are connected with the talking 7 machine, of an elastic member interposed between and independently connected with the said parts to enable the same to move rela tively to one another.

'11. In a soundbox structure, a casing for-.--

the diaphragm, a part of the sound box form-- ing a support thereforof an elastic cushion for said casing, comprising a member of elastic material which is independently attached to said casing and to sald support, one of each of the opposite surfaces of which are substantially unconfined to permit'distortion of said material;

12.-In a sound box structure a casing, a part of the sound box forming a support therefor, an elastic member interposed between said casin and said su port compris ing a disk of yie ding. materia one flat surfaceof which is held n contact with said casing, the remaining surfaces being substantia y unconfined to permit distortion.

13. In a sound box structure, the combination with the part carrying the diaphragm and the part by which the latter is connected to the sound conducting tube, of an elastic member interposed between and independently connected with said parts. 14. In a sound box structure a casing carrying the diaphragm, a su port therefor, and

a disk 9f elastic materia molded around a portioniof said support for holding the same in connection therewith, one flat surface of said disk being held in contactwithsaid casing. 7

' 15 In a sound box structure a casing carrying the diaphragm, a disk of elastic material attached to the back thereof, and a part of the sound box forming a support therefor embedded in said disk,

16. In a. talking machine a sound box structure comprisin a part carrying; the sound producing means, a yieldingdisk contactin with the rear face of said part, and heade fastening pins rigidly connected with said part and passing through said disk, the heads of said. pins serving to hold said part and disk in contact said pins being yieldably supported in said disk.

17. In a sound reproducing machine, the

combination of a casing containing sound' producing means, a sound conducting tube,

studs located on said casing and a yielding material interposed between the heads of said studs, said casing and said tube, said heads being in contact with said yielding material.

19. In a sound box, the combination with a casing, of a yieldin tubular extension secured to the rear si e thereof, and a nonyielding lining in said yielding tubular extension, the inner edge of said linin being out of contact with the rear side of sai casing.

20. In a sound box, the combination with a casing of a yielding tubular extension secured to the rear side thereof and a nonyi'elding lining in said yielding tubular extension.

21. In a sound reproducing'machine, the combination with a casin containing sound producing means, a soun conducting tube, elastic means inter osed between said casin and said tube, an means for securing said elastic means to said casin fixedly attached to said casing at one eno, and having enlargements at their other ends in contactwith said elastic means.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of March A. I), 1903.

LEON F. DOUGLASS.

Witnesses:

Enw. W. VA1LL,J1., LEWIS I-I. VAN DUSEN. 

